Shade-hanger level.



No. 870,098. PATENTED N0V. 5, 1907.

' E. F. HARTSHORN.

SHADE HANGER LEVEL. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1905.

Witnesses Attorneys.

UNITED STATES earns FFIGE.

EDMUND F. HARTSHORN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO STEWART HARTSHORN COMPANY, OF EAST NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A OORPORATlON OF NEW JERSEY.

SHADE-HANGER LEVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed February 20. 1905. Serial No. 246.425.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND F. HARTSHORN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shade- Hanger Levels, of which the following is a description.

The object I have in view is the production of a device to be used in hanging window shades, to enable the workmen very readily and with absolute accuracy to hang the shade in a horizontal position.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of the device removed from the roller showing how it can be applied to rollers of larger diameter; and Fig. 4 is an end view of the device when folded and ready for the pocket.

In all the views like parts are designated by the same reference characters.

In carrying out my invention I provide a tool which carries a level, and has a body portion 1 and is adapted to rest upon the shade roller, the level being in such a position that it may be seen from the side or below, and the body portion being of such a shape that it will rest securely upon the roller, the shape of the body conforming sufficiently to the roller to secure a firm foundation. The body portion comprises the plates 2 and 3, hinged together to permit the device to be used upon rollers of different sizes, but it is not essential that it be made of two plates. These plates are slightly curved in cross section, although this is not necessary, so as to conform to the shape of the roller, are made preferably of metal, and are sufficiently thick to impart some material weight to the device. The two plates are hinged together, the plate 2 as shown having ears 4, 4, and the plate 3, ears 5, 5, which lie between the ears 4, 4. All of these ears are perforated and a hinge rod 6, joins the two plates together, allowing them to be moved upon the hinge so that the two plates may assume any desired angular position.

Upon the tool is arranged a level 7. drawings this level is a spirit level and is located within a lug or ear 8 formed upon one plate, and having an opening or notch 9 to permit observation of the level from the side, above and below, and to form an index for the air bubble. The form of the level may be varied without departing from my invention. The ear 8 is preferably located close to the free edge of the plate, so that the level may be observed from below when the tool is in place upon the shade roller.

As a further improvement the plate 2 is provided As shown in the with a cut away portion 10 between the ears 4, 4, while the plate 3 has correspondingly cut away portions 11, 11, outside of its ears 15. These cut away portions per mit the two plates to be compactly brought together, by pivoting upon the hinge, to assume the folded position shown in Fig. 4. Both plates are preferably the same length and of equal width so that there will be no projecting portions when the device is folded, other than the ear 8, the corners of which may be rounded as shown, so that there will be no sharp projecting portions. When folded the tool may be carried in the pocket, the absence of sharp projections preventing injury to the pocket.

. In using the device one of the curtain supporting brackets, preferably the round hole bracket, is first secured in place to the window frame, the roller with the shade wound upon it is then engaged with the bracket and the tool placed upon the upper surface of the roller. The two plates are separated a sufficient distance to permit them to straddle the roller, the curved configuration of the plates and the weight of the tool causing the device to rest firmly upon the roller, with the level on the side of the roller toward the workman. The operator can then by observing the position of the bubble within the level, ascertain when the roller is in an exact horizontal plane. He will then adjust the square hole bracket in the proper location, to secure the roller in the horizontal position, and nail or screw it in place.

By employing my device, the roller may be very quickly attached, furthermore, the workmen will be always sure that it is perfectly horizontal. This is not possible as has heretofore been the practice in applying rollers without a level as it has been customary to first unwind the shade and use its side edge applied to the side of the window as a guide, for leveling the roller. By such an operation the side of the window may not be exactly vertical, and accordingly the roller will not be horizontal and the shade therefore will not roll up truly.

The plates 2 and 3 are sufliciently thin to permit the device to be applied to the top of the roller, without coming in contact with the upper part of the window frame, when the roller is in place, the form of hinge shown being flush with the upper surface of the plates. The plates are sufficiently wide to cause the level to project downward a sufiicient distance to allow the level to be observed by the workmen looking upward while standing upon a step ladder or chair and without the need of his having to climb up sufficiently high to look down upon the roller. By forming the device of two plates hinged together, they may be applied to rollers of different sizes and by curving the plates and making the device of some material weight it will automatically adjust itself so as to lie true upon the roller.

The invention may be applied to other uses than that illustrated as will be suggested to those skilled in the art.

Having now described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device for leveling shade rollers which comprises a body portion which is adapted to rest upon and straddle the roller, the said body portion having means thereon, observable from below for indicating the horizontalisin of the roller.

2. A device for leveling shade rollers which comprises a body portion adapted to rest upon and be supported by the roller, and having means for indicating the horizontalism of the roller, and means for permitting the adjustment of the body portion so that. it may be made to con 'form to the shape of the roller irrespective of the diameter of the latter.

3. A device for leveling shade rollers, which comprises a body portion adapted to rest upon and be supported by the roller, and having means for indicating the horizontal ism of the roller, such means being observable from below, and means for permitting the adjustment of the body portion so that it may be made to conform to the shape of the roller irrespective of the diameter of the latter.

4. A device for leveling shade rollers, which comprises a body adapted to rest upon and be supported by the roller, the said body being formed of two plates hinged together, and carrying a level, the plates being curved in cross-section.

5. A device for leveling shade rollers, which comprises a body formed of two plates hinged together and carrying a level, the body being adapted to rest upon and be supported by the roller, and having means for indicating the horizontalism of the roller, the plates being of suflicient thickness to he of material weight, whereby the device will be self-centered.

6. A device for leveling window shade rollers which comprises a body formed of two plates having ears thereon,

I a rod passing through the ears and constituting a hinge,

and a level upon one of the plates, the said level being substantially parallel to the rod.

7. A device for leveling window shade rollers, which comprises a body adapted to rest upon and be supported by the roller, the said body being formed of two plates having ears thereon, a rod passing through the ears and constituting a hinge, and a level upon one of the plates, the said plates having cutaway portions adjacent to the ears, so that they can be compactly folded together.

8. A device for leveling window shade rollers, which comprises a body curved in transverse section and adapted to rest upon and straddle the roller, the said body having means observable from below for indicating the horizontalism of the roller.

This specification signed and witnessed this 16th day of February, 1905.

EDMUND F. HARTSI-IORN.

Witnesses E. L. DURGIN, GEORGE E. GUNll-IER. 

